In the winter of 1971, I was practice teaching at the Gould Lake Outdoor Education Centre, north of Kingston. Within the last two days of my placement, my associate teacher told me I had to give a cross-country ski lesson to a class of Grade 8 students. This lesson would be a large part of my evaluation.

I had one day and overnight to learn about the equipment, how to ski well enough to teach others and to put it all together into a lesson. 
I read a book about the sport, put on the skis and practiced on the bush trails and after dinner, finished my teaching plan for the next day. By 10 p.m. I was all finished and looking forward to the morning when the class would arrive at the centre by bus.

At about 5 a.m., I awoke to the sound of ice pellets on the roof. I never got a chance to teach my lesson but I did fall in love with cross-country skiing.
The next winter I bought my first pair of skis — wood with rattrap bindings and bamboo poles. 

I wore corduroy pants, a wool shirt, toque, bush jacket and wool mitts. I skied on hiking trails and cottage roads until the snow left for the spring — no groomed trails for me for years. I loved it! 

By the mid 1980’s, I began to ski on groomed trails with entry fees and ski chalets. Today, all of my skiing is on groomed trails. My equipment is now high tech skis, boots and poles. The clothing is form-fitting, made of new lightweight fibers.

But, what drew me to this sport did not change.

The feeling of moving swiftly and rhythmically over the snow on a forested trail on a fine winter’s day has not changed. I still enjoy the feeling of my body and mind totally involved in an activity that is not only pleasurable, but also healthy. 

The beautiful views won through my own physical effort, while burning well over 600 calories an hour and using all the muscles in my body create a sense of satisfaction and well-being. 

Skiing offers me the opportunity to enjoy nature in winter, and build strength and endurance, but with a low risk of injury. The sport is a big part of my winter social life.

I ski with friends and meet people that I only see during ski season. We talk technique, waxing and tell of adventures on the trails. We host special events — ski races, moonlight skis and potluck suppers at the chalet. 

I ski at five Sudbury Ski Clubs and travel to Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Parry Sound to ski as well.

This healthy, pleasurable and social activity is also affordable. It is more expensive than snowshoeing but much less expensive than snowmobiling or downhill skiing.

Whether you skate ski or do the classic style at the recreational or competitive level, the benefits are the same. Skiing is a healthy, affordable way to spend time with friends in nature at a time of year when many Canadians retreat indoors.

John Gaul is a Greater Sudbury resident who has been a recreational cross-country skier for the past 40 years. This is the third in a series of columns about cross-country skiing.

Posted by Vivian Scinto